Your relationship with a special guy has come and gone, but now you want him back. It's not unheard of for a couple to get back together after they've taken time away from each other, so don't give up hope. Just be sure to put plenty of thought into the reasons you broke up before attempting to get back together, as this can help you make the relationship work the second time around.

See Knowing When Should You Try This to learn more about when getting your ex back might be a good course of action.

Reflect on why the breakup happened. The first thing you need to do is take a long, hard look at what factors led up to the breakup. Consider whether these same difficulties are likely to cause more relationship problems if you try to get back together, or if you might be able to get past them.[1]

It's important to think about what you might have done to cause the breakup. Blaming your ex for everything is not a great way to get him back!

Think about why you want him back. Breakups are never easy, even when the relationship was not a good fit. For this reason, it's crucial to think about your motives for wanting to get your boyfriend back. If you want to get back together because you are sad or lonely or don't like being single, you should probably reconsider. Just because you miss your ex does not mean you should be with him. These feelings will go away eventually, although it may take some time. If you want to get back together because you genuinely care for your ex and you can see yourself having a future with him, then go ahead and try to get him back![2]

If your boyfriend was physically, emotionally, or verbally abusive in any way, you should not try to get back together with him. It's perfectly normal for you to miss him even if it was an unhealthy relationship, but it's important to remind yourself that you can do better.

Take some time. Because the end of a relationship is often tumultuous, it's best to give both yourself and your ex some time away from each other before you try to patch things up. You both need to be able to get over the initial pain of the breakup and think about what you really want.[3]

This doesn't mean you need to completely shun him if you go to school together or have mutual friends, but avoid calling him or hanging out with him for a little while so that you both have the chance to heal and gather your thoughts.

If your ex contacts you a lot, let him know that you're going to give him some time so he doesn't think you don't want anything to do with him. This is especially important if the guy you love is a bit shy or insecure.

Accept that it might not work out. When attempting to get an ex-boyfriend back, you need to realize that it may work out, but it may not. Even if you successfully get your ex back, there's no telling that your relationship will end up lasting. Prepare yourself for this beforehand to avoid being blindsided by heartbreak a second time.

Build your self-esteem. Take this opportunity to really invest in yourself and work on loving yourself. The better your self-esteem, the better prepared you will be to have a healthy, long-lasting relationship.[4]

If you suffer from depression or anxiety, see a mental health professional for help. You may be surprised what an impact treatment will have on your self-esteem.

Remind yourself of your strengths and talents every day. Celebrate every accomplishment you make, no matter how small.

If you have a hard time recognizing your own strengths, talk to your friends and loved ones. Ask them to share with you what they think your most positive traits are.

Try to be thankful for all that you have.

Meditation can help you reduce stress and live more soundly in the moment.

Talk to his friends. If you have mutual friends or if his friends would be willing to talk to you without telling your ex about it, consider asking them what they think the chances are that your ex would want to get back together with you. They are more likely than you to know if he has a new girlfriend or if he's dying to get back together with you.[5]

This is not fool-proof by any means. He might still want to get back together with you even if he hasn't expressed that to his friends.

Initiate contact. When you're ready to start spending time with your ex-boyfriend again, casually ask if he'd like to do something as friends, like having a drink, attending a sporting event, playing a game you both like, seeing a movie, or hanging out at the mall. Act like a friend, not a girlfriend.[6]

Don't use this as an opportunity to start begging him to take you back. Instead, try to have a good time with him and make sure he has a great time with you.

Don't talk about your relationship the first time you see him unless he brings it up first. Otherwise, wait until you've spent time together a few times and have had the chance to make a good impression on him as a friend.

Be the person he fell in love with. While spending time with your ex as friends, give him reasons to remember all of the things he loves about you. Accentuate the traits you know he loves, like your sense of humor or your empathy.[7]

Always be positive and happy when you're around him. You can drop subtle hints along the way that you're still interested in him. For example, you could say, "It's great to hang out with you. I really missed spending time with you."

Even if you don't bring up your past relationship directly, you can remind him of the good times you shared together in subtle ways. If he complimented a particular outfit, wear it again. You could also share a light-hearted memory with him. If you have a chance to meet him, do it in a familiar place where you used to enjoy good times together.

Show him you've changed. Take advantage of your time together as friends to show him how you've been working on improving yourself. For example, if it used to drive him crazy that you were always late, make a point of showing up for your outing a few minutes early.[8]

Have an open discussion. Unfortunately, there's no surefire way to know if your ex-boyfriend wants to get back together with you without asking him. When you feel you've had enough time to show him the new and improved you, have an honest conversation with him, letting him know that you still have feelings for him.

Be sure to ask your ex if he still has feelings for you too before you start gushing about wanting to get back together. If he doesn't, there's not much you can do about it.

Don't cry or beg.

Don't let this conversation become an argument about why you broke up. It's important to show him that you've moved past that.

Have the conversation in a quiet place where you won't be interrupted.

Commit to having a better relationship. If your ex-boyfriend takes you back, you both need to take steps to make sure that the same problems that caused your last breakup will not interfere with your relationship again. Talk to each other about what kinds of conflicts you have had in the past and how you could deal with them more appropriately going forward.[9]

Depending on how serious you and your boyfriend are, you might want to go to couples counseling to improve your relationship skills.

Correct bad habits. Now is the time to scrutinize your behaviors that led to the breakup and to try to self-improve. For example, if you feel that you and your ex broke up because you are too jealous or argumentative, try being more conscious of these behaviors and stopping them in their tracks.[10]

Depending on what bad habits you are trying to rid yourself of, you might benefit from the help of a mental health professional.

Keep in mind that this does not mean you should change who you are. If your personalities are incompatible, it's probably best to look for a new boyfriend who appreciates you for you. If, however, you have some bad habits that you can address, go ahead and work on them.

You don't need to change for anyone else! Any changes that you make should be made because they ultimately benefit you.

Apologize if you hurt him. If you did anything at all to hurt your ex-boyfriend, whether you said something that offended him or you weren't there for him in a time of need, it's time to apologize. It takes great strength to offer a sincere apology, but it will go a long way in helping you repair your relationship.[11]

Be specific about what you are sorry for. Instead of saying, "I'm sorry for hurting you," say, "I'm sorry for not returning your calls." This will help convince him that you have genuinely put some thought into the things you have to be sorry for.

Tell your ex why you did what you did and let him know what you have learned from the experience.

Prove that you're faithful. If you and your ex broke up because you were unfaithful, you face the daunting task of convincing him that you will not cheat again. The exact way that you confront the issue should depend on why you cheated in the first place, but regardless of the reason, it's important to be open and honest with him.[12]

If you cheated because you were unhappy in the relationship or felt that something was missing, be honest about what happened and what you would like to do to make sure it doesn't happen again.

If you cheated because you thought you had genuine feelings for the other person but you really didn't, let your ex-boyfriend know how wrong you were and tell him what you've learned.

If you are a compulsive cheater and are unsure of what motivates you, show your commitment by seeking professional psychiatric counseling.

If you cheated to get revenge or teach your ex-boyfriend a lesson, tell him that you realize how immature that was and that you've learned how important it is to deal with conflicts like an adult.

Work on long distance issues. If you and your boyfriend broke up because you weren't able to make your long distance relationship work, don't give up hope! Long distance relationships are hard, but it is possible to make them work if you stay strong and give your partner the attention he needs.

Commit to regular conversations, and make sure you are open and honest with your partner at all times. If you can't be physically close to him, it's even more important to work on communication.[13]

Fill your partner in on even the most mundane aspects of your daily life, and encourage him to do the same. This will help you feel like you are a part of the other's world.[14]

Try your hardest not to let the distance cause you to become insecure about your relationship, as these doubts can cause the relationship to fail.[15]

Make sure you want your ex boyfriend back for the right reasons. Are you really still in love with him? If so, it might be worth trying to get him back, by showing him you still care and that you believe things will be better this time. Sometimes breaking up provides time for both people to realize that, more than anything, they just want to be together again. However, if you have any other reason for wanting your ex back, reexamine whether it's a good idea to try to rekindle the relationship.

For example, if you want him back because you feel lonely without him, that's not a good enough reason to get back together. The lonely feeling will pass with time.

Or if you want him back because you feel jealous thinking of him with someone else, think again before you decide to try to get back together. Post-breakup jealousy is normal, and this, too, will pass.

Think twice if he's already in another relationship. If your ex boyfriend has started dating someone else, consider him off-limits. Don't become that person who won't leave her ex alone after he has moved on. If he's happy with someone else, you could end up hurting him, his new partner, and yourself by trying to interfere.

Stop trying to get your ex back if the relationship was toxic or abusive. It might feel temporarily lonely or even boring to be on your own after the end of a tumultuous relationship, but try to ride that feeling out instead of going back to your ex. On again, off again relationships tend to be based on unhealthy patterns that won't go away. Resist the temptation to jump right back in when you know you're better off without him.

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Question

Why am I so scared to walk up to my ex boyfriend?

wikiHow Contributor

Community Answer

It is natural to feel scared about going up to someone who has rejected you. You may be worried that he won't talk to you, won't be friendly and perhaps won't answer any questions you may have. All of this is natural and normal. If you really want to approach him to ask him something, consider going with a friend you can rely on and perhaps having them doing some of the talking on your behalf. Choose somewhere neutral and calm, and have a good excuse to leave quickly if things seem too awkward for you, such as "Thanks for the quick chat, I have to get to an appointment now". Most of all, realize that if you don't get the answers or discussion you'd hoped for, that it's not a reflection on you, as you've shown much courage, but is about your ex-boyfriend's method of dealing with the situation in his own way and isn't a slur on you.

As common knowledge goes, you cannot make a person have certain feelings for you. However, you can encourage them to feel a certain way through reminders, thoughts, gestures and messages, so there might be some ways to help your ex think about the good things the two of you shared together. For more details on how this might be possible, read How to Make Your Ex Miss You.

It's best to admit your mistakes. You'll need to forgive yourself for your part in the breakup, then move forward to seek his forgiveness. If you lose your temper and say things you don't mean, pull yourself together as quickly possible and apologize sincerely. There is nothing weak or demeaning about apologizing. On the contrary, it shows strength and good character. But when you apologize, be sure you mean it. A disingenuous apology is worse than no apology.

If there's a pattern of breaking up and getting back together, there's something wrong with the relationship that needs to be fixed. All couples fight sometimes, but at some point you need to take a breath and think about why it keeps happening.

If you focus your attention on spending time with your friends or pursuing a new hobby, you will have less time to miss your ex-boyfriend, which can help you avoid the pitfalls of getting back together just because you're lonely.[16]

Reader Success Stories

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Venus Brown

Dec 1

"Thank you! Now I know how I'll get my ex back! He told me he's breaking up with his girlfriend since he still likes me a lot, so I'm gonna get back with him after I break up with my boyfriend."..." more

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Phil Tawiah

Aug 19

"It has really helped me. Now my ex sends me messages every day that he misses me and is sorry for what he did."

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Anonymous

May 17, 2016

"I love how the article addresses every problem you may have. The steps for solving your past problems were really helpful, and in general the writing style made it feel very personal. I liked the blunt truth of getting back onto your feet and taking control of your life."..." more

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Sydney Ibarra Paz

Feb 15

"I hope it helps me get my ex-boyfriend back. I really love him and I will show him I've changed for him. I will tell him how much I love him and want him to be my boyfriend again. I will tell him I won't get jealous anymore."..." more

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Ciera Briggs

Feb 7, 2017

"My boyfriend broke up with me the last time, but all the other times I did. I really want him back, but we barely talk. I don't have a phone, but this helps me. I did all steps, I'm on #5."..." more

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Camila C.

May 17, 2016

"The thing that helped me in this article was that you should build up strength before facing your ex. Also working out long distance relationships was helpful. Thank you."..." more

Esther Kennedy

May 22, 2017

"I am very happy today with my family. My husband left me 2 years ago, and I love him so much. I have been looking for a way to get him back since then. "..." more

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Anonymous

Aug 15, 2017

"This article is awesome! I love it! It will definitely help me get my ex back! Thank you guys! And to anyone else, be strong! You can do it! Love y'all!"..." more

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Anonymous

Aug 3, 2017

"Addresses what I'm going through and helped me hugely to make the right decisions! I also looked at the tips, which really helped me!"..." more

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Rebbacca Olson

Sep 3, 2017

"I broke up with my ex, with whom I was deeply in love. To overcome this, I used the steps, and finally did."

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Anyah Robinson

Apr 13, 2016

"I think it was very helpful because it taught me to think about why I miss him, plus ways to get him back."

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Alexa Bliss

Jun 25, 2017

"It helped to not worry about my ex because there are plenty of fish in the sea."